MOON TOWNSHIP– Robert Morris (6-8, 4-5 Horizon) fell to IUPUI (9-5, 6-3) 63-44 in a Horizon League matchup Friday night. Looking to rebound from their close loss to Youngstown State last Saturday, the Colonials came out playing hard, sticking to the defensive identity they had created over the past month.

The start of the first quarter was an evenly matched affair, as both teams were tied at seven after about five minutes. Simone Morris accounted for five of RMU’s first seven points.

However, a 10-1 run by IUPUI to close out the quarter gave the Jaguars a nine-point lead after ten minutes.

Starting off the second quarter, RMU got some production on the offensive end going on a run of their own. Specifically, they were finding success inside, and RMU cut the deficit to three midway through the second quarter.

Just like the first quarter, though, IUPUI responded. Macee Williams, who finished with a double-double for the Jaguars, was a key reason why the Jags went on another run. Williams was giving the Colonials trouble inside all night.

Interim head coach Scott Schneider spoke about Williams’s impact.

“Macee Williams is a phenomenal player. We game-planned expecting that she was going to be in the game,” Schneider said. “She hit her numbers, and we never seemed to make her uncomfortable.”

RMU took a nine-point deficit into the locker room with Sol Castro leading RMU’s scoring with six points.

Schneider also spoke about Castro and how big of a factor she was tonight and what she has meant to the team.

“I’m proud of Sol,” Schneider said, “We’ve been with her on keeping her positive attitude through the struggles. That’s something that she did today.”

Also during the 2nd quarter, Nina Augustin picked up her 278th career assist, which puts her 10th all-time at Robert Morris.

Coming out of the break, IUPUI was on fire, and extended their lead to as much as fifteen a minute and a half into the 3rd quarter. Sol Castro was making her presence known down low, scoring eight points in the quarter to try and cut the deficit.

Castro looked like herself again, finishing with sixteen points, leading RMU’s scoring.

The Colonials couldn’t find an answer for IUPUI’s offensive barrage, as the Jaguars shot 46 percent from the floor and 38.5 percent from three-point range. After 30 minutes of play, RMU trailed by 19 points.

The Colonials kept pace with the Jaguars in the fourth quarter but the damage was already done as IUPUI ran away with this one.

As previously mentioned, Sol Castro led RMU with 16 points, closely followed by Esther Castedo who had 12.

As for IUPUI, Macee Williams led the way in points with 18 for the Jaguars. The Colonials are back in action Sunday at 1 p.m. to take on UIC at the UPMC Events Center.